St James' Church, Cooling

The church originates from the 13th century, with its building continuing into the following century. The upper part of the tower was added later, and was completed by about 1400. The church was restored in the 19th century, when a vestry was added, and the porch was rebuilt. It was declared redundant on 19 November 1976 and vested in the Churches Conservation Trust on 31 May 1978. It is now cared for by a group known as the Friends of St James' Church. The church is open daily to visitors.

St James' is constructed in a variety of stone, including ragstone, flint and chalk, with some repairs in sandstone. The roofs are tiled. Its plan consists of a nave with a south porch, a chancel with a south vestry, and a west tower. The windows in the nave date from the early 14th century, and those in the chancel from the 15th century. The single-manual organ was probably made in about 1880 by A. Kirkland. There are three bells, all dating from the 17th century, but they are not ringable. The tenor bears the inscription "MICHAEL DARBIE MADE ME 1651" and is estimated to be . According to an inspection in 2004 by Peter Romney the frame appears to be medieval. The fittings may be from 1675,…